#command conquer remastered

[heleneplays]

maybe the real yuri was the commander and her EVA falling in love along the campaign

[plaguerenamon]

I played one game, and I kinda started building bases everywhere. The above one is HQ, the two below is the airfield above HQ.

It has seen better days. This one below is a small refinery outpost on the left of HQ.

And lastly, on the other side of the map is probably the worst place to get deployed on. The front line base, using a captured MCV.

I like base building.

[take-care-with-your-glasses]

This shit is so well made, even when I'm not a fan of this type of games, aside of StarCraft maybe. It was well, very well made. Kudos to Frank Klepacki

[wolfleblack]

A new Command & Conquer remastered collection is being hinted at

Command & Conquer fans got some good news this week. Over the years, the Command & Conquer series has been spread out across multiple digital platforms, with the only place to get all of them being EA’s own much-maligned Origin storefront. But in the last few days, EA has added all of the remaining C&C titles to Steam, meaning you can now own all of the games in the series on the biggest PC…

[mysteamgrids]

Command & Conquer Remastered

[silentwisher-feed]

Islands Battle - Command & Conquer Red Alert Remastered

Islands Battle - Command & Conquer Red Alert Remastered #videogames #smallyoutuberarmy #redalert #cncra #gaming

Islands Battle – Command & Conquer Red Alert Remastered

[flowery-laser-blasts]

Finally finished a drawing I started ages ago aaaa!!! My boyfriend made me listen to 'Militant Force (Remastered)' and 'Brain Freeze (Remastered)' by Frank Klepacki and The Tiberian Sons and these two songs SCREAM Kim vs Shego!!! Militant force is Kim and Ron's theme and Brain Freeze is Shego and Drakken's theme, especially with that evil laugh. I'm really, really bad at playing Command and Conquer though...

[james5-doe]

Defenders Chronicles: Highlander -- Remastered

I decided to offer my own take on the first three chapters of Defenders Chronicles: Highlander, by @amanda-multifandom. Some things have been left the same.

----

Defenders of the Earth Chronicles: Highlander

Prelude to a Storm

Central City — 2:30 pm Intergalactic Union Agency

Her mother's agents weren't strong enough. The hovering sorceress was owning them.

Tori watched the fight from Control Room Four, eyes locked onto the video screen. Her mother had sent a lone SWAT team out. Their mission was to capture the girl named Veena, who was wreaking havoc on Lakeview Square. Veena was the daughter of Damian Dark, a powerful man who had led her astray. They had been conquering smaller towns. Now they were after a larger one.

It seemed Damian hadn't come this time. Maybe he wanted to test the girl. Knowing how powerful Veena was — according to info she'd found on her — Tori had dispatched two extra teams, units that her mom didn't know about. They were supposed to be arriving soon. The squads weren't headed to the battle, though. Tori wanted them in areas nearby.

She focused her gaze onto Veena Dark, a raven-haired teen with her locks in a bun, a black cape cloaking her gray outfit. She wasn't much older than Tori herself. Something about her seemed a little familiar. Whenever the unit opened fire on Veena, she would teleport a few yards aside, the thin laser beams hitting nothing but air. Then she'd respond with a wave of her hand, summoning winds that blew the agents away. She'd attack others with magical ice, making them slip as they scurried about. She was having fun — toying with them. Her lips had curled into a lengthy smirk.

Tori sat down and slipped a headset on. She needed to know where her two teams were. "Echo Group, are you in position?"

"Standing by, Tori," a young man said. "We just arrived."

"Proceed as planned," she told the unit. "Do not join Bravo at the battle site."

Veena swung her arms. Agents flew, screaming as they crashed into nearby trees.

Tori pulled her left leg up on the chair, telling herself to remain composed. "Delta Team, are you on location?"

"Negative, Tori. We need one minute."

"Follow our plan when you reach the site." She rested a hand over her bare foot, directing her attention at the unit in battle. "Bravo Team, this is Agent T. I will be your guide for the rest of this mission."

"Copy that, Tori," the leader replied, catching his breath as he ran about.

"Those weapons you're using aren't going to work," Tori advised. "I want you to switch to B-44s."

"Switch to what?"

"The light-blue bazookas with hollow shells."

About a minute later, four of the agents had switched their weapons. Each took aim at Veena Dark, who watched in unabashed arrogance.

"Set your blasts to Slow," Tori instructed.

"What?" said the leader, twitching on-screen. "She'll see the shells coming way before they hit."

"Do as I've ordered," Tori remarked, squinting as she focused on the hovering girl.

The leader paused, then turned to his team. "Blasts on Slow."

They made the adjustments, then aimed once more.

Tori leaned forward. "Fire," she said.

The men pulled the triggers. Spheres flew forth, gliding upward as they drifted toward Veena, giving her plenty of time to respond.

And Veena responded as Tori had figured — with thick blasts of lightning from both of her hands, an attack that Tori's research had discovered.

The spheres exploded as the lightning hit. The gas that they held quickly spread through the air. Veena flinched, clearly surprised — and then she began coughing up a storm.

She tumbled to the ground, down on one knee.

"Bravo Team forward," Tori commanded. "Secure the target."

The agents rushed forth.

Veena stood, waving a hand, the other one still clamped beneath her nose. She looked quite drowsy as she stumbled about.

Then she teleported away from the site. The men looked around. They couldn't find her.

Tori hopped up. "Echo Team, prepare to engage. Delta Team, prepare to engage. The target will likely arrive in a moment." According to the research that Tori had done, Veena could only teleport two miles. She'd probably flee toward a nearby park — to one of the places where the teams were waiting.

Tori hit a button, seeing both units, each appearing via a sharp split-screen.

Veena teleported near Echo Team.

"Trigger the pyramid now, Commander," Tori told an agent.

A man on-screen used a handheld gadget. A force-field erupted right out of the grass, trapping Veena in a pyramid.

Veena shook again. Then she scowled, dropping to her knees as she fidgeted. Tori knew the girl couldn't warp away. Teleportation took energy. The field was sapping most of Veena's now.

"Good job, Commander," Tori remarked. "Wait a few minutes for the target to tire, then lower the field, and bring her in." She shifted her gaze to the other screen. "Delta Team, halt. Bravo Team, halt. Target secured. Target secured."

Ten minutes later, Tori's mother Janet had entered the room. She stood with a phone pressed against her ear. "Thank you, Mr. Mayor," she said with a smile. "I'm glad that our agency could be of service. I have the greatest weapon in the world on my side, greater than the Necklace of Oros even." Janet brushed a hand over Tori's head. "I have my beautiful daughter's mind. No matter how powerful an enemy is, I promise that Victoria can find their weakness."

Tori looked away, squirming a bit. Her mother was certainly exaggerating. Tori was smart, but not that smart. She wouldn't have the answer every single time. Apart from that, it irked her that her mother had called her a weapon.

She knew her Aunt Dale wouldn't ever do that.

Tori got up and left the woman behind, making her way toward the central room. She entered a space that was huge and gray, laden with computers and enormous screens. Everyone was toiling away at their work — poking at tablets, pointing at maps, pushing full carts of equipment in.

Several heads turned as she crossed the floor. Most people knew who she was by now. It wasn't because her mom ran the place — at least, Tori liked to think that it wasn't. People recognized her for the work that she'd done. She'd earned a gold medal in Strategy. She'd gotten compliments from the government. She'd proven so skilled ever since she'd arrived, that people felt that she would take over one day.

Storming through the room, she eyed a gold emblem underneath her toes, a circle with the letters IUA spread across.

Her steps carried her to a balcony rail. A little breeze lifted her thin brown hair. She let her eyes settle on her fluttering locks, then stared at the beautiful city ahead. This was the town that she'd grown up in, alongside her cousins, her uncle, and aunt. Leaving it was going to be particularly hard, but that was the decision she'd reached last night. It was finally time for her to spread her wings, away from the city, away from her mom.

Tori was born in a heroic clan, born to a family that defended the Earth. They couldn't take all of the credit for that, but the Gordons helped keep the planet safe — safe from rogue witches, safe from mad moguls, and safe from aliens like the tyrant Ming. Everybody knew about Dale and Flash. Everybody knew the name Gordon well. Her aunt was a legend. Her uncle was too.

But her mother Janet was a very black sheep.

According to the research that Tori had done, her mother was reckless when shooting one day.

Her father, Ian, had paid the price.

That was when Janet had gone to jail. Tori went to live with her uncle and aunt. She'd only been four back when that had occurred. Her younger cousin April was her dearest companion. She was very close to cousin Rick as well. Was she truly ready to leave them behind?

This wasn't like before, two years back, when a court had placed her with Janet again, when her mother finally got back on her feet. Though she hadn't liked moving in with her mom, her cousins were a mere bus ride across town.

This would be different. This would be hard. Now she was actually leaving the state.

"Tor?"

She heard her mother's voice from behind.

Tori paused a moment, then faced the woman.

"What's going on?" Janet inquired. "Why did you rush from the room like that?"

She took a slow breath. "I can't do this," she managed to mutter. "I mean you and me. I can't do us. I'm just not ready — at least not yet."

Janet stared, then heaved a sigh. "I know that I've never been an ideal mom…" She glanced away. "But I'm trying here, Tor."

"I know that you are…but I need space."

Janet looked irked. "You're going to move back in with Flash and Dale?"

"No," she mumbled. "I need a new start." Tori straightened up. "I'm transferring to the Seacouver team. I'm leaving Central City for Washington state."

-Defenders-Chronicles-Highlander-

Two Months Later

Everything was going pretty well so far. She had a new squad, and a new home. She had adapted easily to both. She didn't take a lot of days off at present, but Tori had granted herself one now.

She made her way into a little brown theater, opting to see a new action film. She wasn't sure why she had chosen this, given her current profession and all. Maybe it provided a form of escape; action films usually got things wrong.

Just as the opening credits appeared, a young man with curly red hair sat down. He didn't look excited for the picture at all. His breaths were slow. His stare was tense. It seemed as though a matter was troubling him.

"Everything okay?" she said in a whisper.

He eyed her with caution.

"Sorry." She smiled. "Didn't mean to be nosy."

"No, no," he said. "It's just…well…" The young man twitched. He looked a bit pale. There was clearly something that he wanted to share. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you…and I told him I wouldn't say anything."

Tori shrugged a bit. "I can keep a secret." And besides that, there really wasn't much that she wouldn't believe, especially considering the things she'd seen.

He hesitated, then managed to speak. "I saw some men with swords. One looked like Sir Lancelot. I even witnessed one of them take the head off this guy after he defeated Sir Lancelot. I mean, the guy got hit by lightning, and the bolts struck the bridge and the surrounding area. It was crazy. Then the guy jumped off the bridge after I said to pretend I'm not here. I don't know if he was dead, or not."

Tori took a moment to absorb all that. Had she come across it in her various studies? Guys with swords? Lightning bolts? Some sort of transfer of energy?

No, she noted, squinting a tad. She'd never researched anything like this.

"It sounds like something in The Twilight Zone," the guy acknowledged.

"It certainly does," Tori declared, "but I don't believe that you're making it up."

He looked relieved, and kind of surprised.

"I'm not from a normal family." Tori had to get the IUA involved.

"What do you mean?" he asked quietly.

"Can you let me know where you saw all this?" She rose from the seat, clutching her phone.

He looked a little baffled. "Why?" he asked.

"Just let me know."

"Wilshire Peak."

Tori started walking toward the theater door. She hit the speed-dial, then lifted the phone. "Darren, it's Tori. I need a C unit out at Wilshire Peak. I got a report of activity."

"Roger that, Tor," Darren replied. "What's going on?"

"I'm not too sure. Just send Containment. I'm heading out now so I can meet them there."

"No way, T. You're resting today. Stay where you are. We'll handle this."

Tori was tempted to ignore that request.

"Tori," he said, adamantly, clearly picking up on her urge to step in. "You work too hard. Stay where you are. I'll let you know as soon as we learn anything."

"All right," she uttered. "I'll sit tight here. Tell all the guys to be careful out there." She ended the call, then retook her seat.

The redheaded boy still appeared confused.

“I asked authorities to take a look at the place.”

He flinched a bit. “You told me that you could keep a secret, though.”

“I can,” she said, “but not the kind of secret that involves chopped heads. Come on, you know we had to tell someone.”

He made a soft sigh, then looked at his lap.

“It's going to be okay. Just trust me on this.” She licked her lips, thankful that he might have helped the agency out. "I guess we should kind of introduce ourselves."

"All right." He paused, composing himself. "Ladies first."

"What a gentleman." She forced a small smile. "I'm Victoria. People call me Tori."

"I'm Richard Ryan. People call me Richie."

"Nice to meet you, Richie."

-Defenders-Chronicles-Highlander-

After the end credits started to roll, Tori walked out with Richie at her side.

Darren had called. Nothing on-site.

"Look," Richie uttered, "I'm wondering something. You said that your last name is Gordon, right?”

"Yes…" Tori sensed where this was going.

"You're a smart girl… Not easily fazed…"

She flashed a half grin. “What makes you say that?”

Richie made a smirk. "Come on now, Tor. All through the film, you pointed all these little inaccuracies out. And right before that, you totally believed what I said to you." He stared a second. "You've got to be related to the famous Flash"

Tori was amused by his deductive skills, and maybe just a little impressed as well. "Flash is my uncle," she uttered quietly.

Richie wore a look of fascination now.

"But I'm not living with him anymore." Tori grew intrigued. "What about you? Your family's here?"

"Couldn't say really." He studied the ground. "Spent my whole life in the foster system."

"Oooh…" she murmured. "Sorry about that." She saw a parallel. "It's not quite the same, but when I was four…"

Out of nowhere, with very little sound, a dark-garbed man with a ponytail appeared.

Tori's eyes widened and she took a step back.

"It's one of the men with the swords!" Richie whispered. "The one who was hit by the lightning bolts."

The man shifted all of his focus to Richie. "I have come to make you an offer," he said, "but I believe that we should speak privately."

Richie hesitated. "Okay." He nodded. He shifted to Tori. "I'll see you later, Tor…at least, I think."

"Wait," she said. "Are you sure about this?" She wouldn't let him leave if it was dangerous. She could call the cops or the IUA up.

"I'm fine," he offered. "I'll be all right."

The man gave Tori an assuring nod.

Richie walked off with the mysterious guy.

Tori thought back to everything they'd discussed. Richie revealed he was a petty thief, a thief who'd be turning 18 next month. She didn't approve of that hobby of his, but Tori sensed something positive in him. Maybe the sword man could bring that out. Maybe Richie wouldn't choose to steal anymore. After all, Tori believed that anybody could change. Well, almost anybody, at least. She doubted Ming the Merciless could never improve. She certainly hoped that Richie could, however.

Suddenly, she looked up to see a man with light brown hair in the area. Tori gazed at the guy for a moment before she nodded at him. He nodded back in response. She brushed her hair aside and walked away from the theater.

Then she got a text on her mobile phone: "Tor, it's Mom. I'm transferring there."

-Defenders-Chronicles-Highlander-

Connor eyed the girl as she gawked at her phone. The aura he sensed was undeniable: this young woman was a pre-immortal, a human who'd become immortal after first death.

He walked to the loft of the antique store. Duncan was talking with Tessa there.

"Connor," Duncan addressed his clansmen.

"I thought that you left," Tessa declared.

"I was going to," Connor explained, "but I sensed another pre-immortal down by the theater."

Duncan looked stunned. "The boy?" he asked.

"The girl as well."

Tessa glanced between them. "A pre-immortal?"

"Not immortal yet," Duncan revealed. "They remain mortal until their first death. Just like Connor. Just like myself."

She looked fascinated. "Do you think we'll see the young woman again?"

"You two might," Connor replied, "and when you do see her, you'll feel the Buzz, albeit, a different form than usual. Speaking of which, what about the boy?"

"I made him an offer," Duncan answered. "He pays the damage off by working with us." He folded his arms. "The kid's name is Richie." He had to pause. "And within him I sense…much potential."

------

Chance Encounter

Tori tied a shoe and headed off on her jog. This wasn't going to be a very peaceful morning. She'd have a whole lot on her mind today. Her mother was heading up to Seacouver, transferring here so she could be with Tor.

Janet was the head of the IUA. She could lead whichever division she pleased. But why did she have to come to Tori's division? Why did her mother have to follow her here?

Was this related to strategy? Was Janet really needed in the area? Or was she attempting to build a bridge, seeking the bond that they'd always lacked?

Several Years Ago

A loud clap of thunder echoed over the grounds. Tori cuddled up right beneath her sheets. She was relieved to be where she belonged — back amongst the people whom she'd grown up with.

This wasn't exactly what the courts decreed. The law said she had to give Janet a chance — that she had to live with her mother a while.

All of that had lasted for around two weeks. Then she'd snuck away so she could come back here. This was her family. This was her home.

Her younger cousin April came and snuggled her close.

"I was simply losing my mind in there, A."

April made a chuckle. "I'm not surprised."

Tori frowned a tad, then heaved a soft sigh. April didn't have a high opinion of Janet. None of her relatives did, it seemed. Tori had attempted to bond with her mom, but found they didn't have a lot in common at all.

A very loud knock sounded off downstairs. Someone was pounding on the home's front door.

It had to be Janet. This wouldn't end well.

Tori rose a bit, and April followed suit. Both of them swore, which Tori regretted. They had certainly been raised not to.

Tori heard the sound of the door swinging open.

"All right, where is she?" Janet inquired.

"Where is who, Jan?" her aunt Dale replied. Tori could tell Dale was prepped for a fight. Her aunt and her mother never got along well.

"Victoria, Dale. Where is my daughter?"

"What are you saying?" Dale sounded surprised. She didn't know that Tori was here just yet. "You're telling me you don't know where Tori is?" Dale was getting angry. That was quite clear. The women would probably come to blows in a moment.

Tori ran down with April following.

"Aunt Dale," Tori called. "I snuck in here."

Dale looked stunned. She touched Tori's cheek. "Hon?" she said, eyeing her closely. "What are you doing? Why'd you sneak off?"

Tori hesitated. "I know that I'm supposed to be living with Mom…" She looked at her mother. "But this is where I feel most comfortable."

April wrapped her arms around Tori's chest.

Flash walked up. "What's going on?"

Janet heaved a moan, then met Tori's gaze. "Get in the car."

"No," she answered, perhaps too sharply. "Mom…" she muttered. "I want to stay here."

"Tori…" Janet mumbled.

Flash stepped forth. "Jan," he said. "Why don't you go home? Let us talk to Tor. We'll sort this out."

Janet shook a bit. "The law says that Tori- -"

"I know that, Jan. We'll sort things out."

Janet stared a moment, then turned and left.

Tori eyed the carpet as she heard the door close.

The Present

Tori stared downward, eyeing the ground. The sound of a grunt snapped her out of her trance. Then she noticed something very strange up ahead.

"What in the world…" she uttered in awe. She'd walked to a wide open spot in the woods.

A bloodied man was kneeling. Another guy stood — the very same man who took Richie away. The latter was armed with a glistening sword. His black ponytail swung about in a breeze.

The standing man slashed. The former's head rolled.

Tori gasped loudly. She hid behind a tree.

Then she heard what sounded like a crackle of thunder, not unlike the thunder that she'd heard long ago. It wasn't raining then, and it wasn't raining now.

She peeked outward. The armed man knelt. It looked as though lightning was surrounding him now.

Tori pulled her phone and dialed the IUA up. The agency needed to know about this.

She glanced at the screen for a moment or two. When she looked up, the man was gone.

------

Changes

Tori looked in from outside of the shop. Richie was there, as he'd said in a text. She certainly could use a friendly face right now.

Just as she was stepping through the shop's small door, she froze in her tracks, beginning to gawk. The guy from the woods was inside too.

Did she call the IUA up right now? She had been searching for the guy for days.

"Can I help y… Tori?" Richie noticed her and started bearing a grin. "Tori, is that you?"

"Hi…" she said, giving him a glance. Then her eyes settled on the man again.

"How's it going?" he asked, offering a quick hug. She was too stunned to really hug him back.

"Richie, who's this?" a woman with a thick French accent asked.

"Tessa, I'd like for you to meet Tori Gordon. Tori, meet Tessa. She's taken me in. She and Mac are kind of my foster folks now." He gestured to the man whom she'd seen in the woods.

Tori felt a shudder as the words sank in. Richie was living with a violent killer? "Richie!" she said, whispering. She pulled him close, stepping away. "I saw that guy do everything you described. He killed someone! He took his head!"

Richie's lips parted. He paused for a second. "Oh," he uttered, holding her hands. "About all that…" He licked his lips. "Let's sit for a moment. I can explain."

For around ten minutes, he did just that, telling her all about Duncan's clan. Tori grew aware of their noble cause. They weren't enemies of the IUA. They were fighting people who were, however.

After Richie's story was all wrapped up, with Duncan chiming in every now and then, Tori heaved a sigh, deeply relieved.

"I'm sorry that you saw what you saw out there," Duncan declared, extending his palm.

Tori paused a moment, then offered her own. She made a calm smile while shaking his hand.

"Nice to meet you, Tori," Duncan affirmed.

"You as well," Tori declared. "You too, Tessa."

Tessa made a nod.

Duncan got up and turned his gaze toward Richie. "Tessa and I are going out for a bit."

"I got things here," Richie replied.

Around two minutes after both of them left, Tori's phone rang. She answered it.

"Tor, it's me…"

Tori froze, gripped by fright, a deeper fright than she'd felt in a while. She heard a deep pain in her cousin's voice. April never spoke to her like this. She didn't want to learn what was going on — but knew that she had to ask anyway. "April…" she said.

"I'm on my way back from the academy. I'm coming home, T. You have to come too."

Victoria Gordon felt her knees grow weak. Her head felt light. Her face got cold. "…Why?" she asked.

Richie eyed Tori, looking concerned.

"Dad just called," April revealed.

Tori listened on, eyes on the wall, receiving the very worst news of her life.

Once it sank in, she dropped to the floor. The cell phone was shaking against her ear.

"Whoa!" Richie said. "What's going on, Tor?"

Tori eyed the wall. She couldn't respond.

Richie wrapped his arms right around her frame. "Tor?" he whispered.

-Defenders-Chronicles-Highlander-

Richie let himself out of Tori's home. He'd driven her there once she'd gotten the news. She was devastated by her Aunt Dale's death, and said that she needed to sleep right now. He'd asked repeatedly if he could help at all, but there was nothing more he could do at the moment.

Tori had been good to him since they'd met, and he knew how it felt to lose someone he loved. His heart was bleeding for the girl right now.

-Defenders-Chronicles-Highlander-

"We have to turn around," Janet announced, speaking to the pilot of her private plane.

The man glanced at her through the monitor. He appeared surprised as he saw her face. Maybe he'd noticed the tears she bore.

She brushed a long lock of her black hair forth, hoping to cover her current expression. People never spotted much emotion in her. She was a leader. She had to be tough.

She lowered the phone that she'd just hung up. "I've gotten bad news. Head to Central City."

The pilot made a nod. "Right away, leader."

Once upon a time, Janet and Dale were the best of friends. They had fallen out after Ian was shot. Over the past two years, however, the two had begun to rebuild their bond.

Janet recalled what had severed things. She wished ardently that she could change her mistake.

Several Years Ago

She steadied the rifle, taking a breath. These aliens and human with magical abilities caused her husband's tragic death.

Then she heard a crackle on her radio. No one ever reached out before a hit. No one except for the head honcho.

"Elisonne!" he barked. "It's Captain Hill. Lower your weapon. Do not engage."

She had to pretend that she couldn't hear. "Sorry, commander. You're breaking up." Janet made a sigh as she studied the target. Why couldn't anybody see things her way? These mystical people simply couldn't be trusted.

Another crackle came on the radio. "Janet, it's Dale. Do. Not. Shoot! That man whom you're targeting is innocent."

"Too late to pull back," Janet replied.

"Jan!" she bellowed. "You pull that trigger, I'm taking your daughter. I'll file for custody immediately."

The Present

Tori arrived at Central City. She looked around as she had spotted April at the airport.

"Hey, April," Tori greeted her cousin.

"Hey yourself," April smiled as she hugged and greeted her cousin, "I wish we were meeting under better circumstances."

"I can't believe it," Tori said sadly, "your mom was essentially a second mom to me."

"I know," April smiled. "I can't believe mom's gone."

"Did you find out how she was killed?" Tori asked, almost a stupid question.

"Ming," April answered bluntly, "he killed her, and Rick witnessed her death."

Tori placed a hand on her mouth in shock. It must have been horrible for her younger cousin to have witnessed something as horrible as their own mother's death. She couldn't have imagined what Rick had gone through.

"We should meet with Dad and the others," April suggested.

"That sounds like a plan," Tori nodded.

Within a half hour, Tori and April arrived at the mansion where Flash was waiting.

"He lives in a mansion now?" Tori asked.

"This is the mansion of Mandrake the Magician," April answered, "he and Rick live here now, and from what I hear, they're planning to find a new Headquarters to defend the Earth from Ming the Merciless."

Flash was at the doorway of the mansion, and he greeted his daughter and niece.

"The others are here waiting for us," Flash informed them.

Tori nodded as she and April followed him to the den. She recognized her other aunt Abigail, who Tori had considered to be nicer than her mother, and her youngest cousin Sara. She was the youngest by a couple of months, between her and Rick. She also recognized her uncle Flash and younger cousin Rick, who was talking with a girl with dark hair and a young black guy.

"Hey, Sara," Tori greeted her cousin.

"Hey." Sara hugged her cousin, "I wish this was a family reunion and not a funeral."

"I couldn't agree more." April crossed her arms.

Then there was Mandrake the Magician, whom she recognized as the man her mother tried to kill. Next to him, she recognized as Lothar, a man who was friends with Mandrake. The last person in the room Tori recognized was the Phantom, someone she thought was just a legend.

Along with the guy and girl who were talking with Rick, Tori didn't recognize the young Asian boy who was also in the room.

"Tori…" Flash looked over at his niece. "Allow me to introduce you to the team."

-Defenders-Chronicles-Highlander-

Tori looked at the beautiful night sky after enjoying a wonderful dinner with her family. She found the mansion was beautiful, and she was certain the Defenders would find a base. She was certain they would find proper resources and anything else they needed for that home base.

"Hey, Tori," Sara greeted her cousin, "the funeral is tomorrow, and we should get some sleep. Are you coming in?"

"Yeah," Tori nodded, "I'll be in shortly."

"Okay," Sara nodded before she made her way back to the mansion.

Then, Tori was thinking about the team her uncle Flash and cousin Rick would be with; the Phantom was mysterious, and from what she heard about him, he could be very helpful to the team. The same could be said for his daughter Jedda, who seems to be a quite bold young lady. Mandrake the Magician could prove very helpful as well with the battles against Ming. Lothar and his son LJ were strong and surely, they would be capable of taking down strong opponents when the others couldn't. She wasn't sure about Mandrake's ward Kshin though, but she was certain he would be helpful somehow, but she wasn't sure.

Being pulled from her thoughts, Tori heard a loud clapping sound from behind, followed by feeling a sharp pain in her back. She screamed in pain before she fell to the ground, despite trying to catch something to keep from hitting the ground, and she suddenly blacked out.

Several Years Ago

Dale knelt down and touched Tori's arms. "You know that me and Uncle Flash love you, right?"

Tori made a nod, licking her lips. Why did Aunt Dale seem nervous now?

"And you realize that we would never be mean. You know that you're perfectly safe in here."

She made another nod, holding her tongue.

Dale took a breath. "There's something that we need to have a talk about, Tor." She paused again. "You live here now. You're staying with us. You won't be going back to your house anymore."

Tori twitched a tad. "But why?" she asked.

Dale shook too. "Do you understand what a mistake is, Tor?"

Tori paused a second. "When someone does something that they shouldn't have done?"

She nodded a little. "When someone does something that they shouldn't have done." Her gaze drifted onto the carpeted floor. "Absolutely anyone can make a mistake — and that means mommies and daddies too." She shifted her eyes up to Tori's again. "Your mother made…a big mistake. I can't really tell you just what she did. But when a parent makes that kind of mistake…the rules say they have to stop being a parent."

The Present

April was startled upon hearing a gun shot sound, followed by a scream from Tori.

"Tori?!" April exclaimed in worry.

"What's going on?" Rick asked.

"Stay here," April told her brother before she headed outside, "I'll go out. Tell Dad that I'm with Tori for a late night walk."

"Okay," Rick nodded as she left the room. She could tell he wanted to help out with whatever was going on, but she guessed he was too tired to think about arguing.

April hurried outside, and then she looked on in shock as her cousin was shaking on the granite ground.

"Tori!" April ran and knelt at her side. Tori felt frail and weak in her arms. Her eyes had a hazy and distant look. "Can you hear me, Tor? Do you know who I am?"

Tori shook a little, pausing a second. "…Take me home, A. Just take me back home."

April knew exactly what Tori meant — back to the place where they'd both grown up. They still had the keys. It hadn't been sold. It was mainly used as their summer house now.

-Defenders-Chronicles-Highlander-

The home was covered in a dark-blue hue. Everything was absolutely quiet within.

She sat cross-legged on her bed with Tori, just as they had done on so many occasions. The house was flowing with memories — holiday seasons, birthday parties, little Rick sharing his dreams of heroics.

But April couldn't focus on the past right now. She had to zero in on the present instead. "What happened, Tor?" she asked with caution. She sensed that she wouldn't like the answer at all.

Tori eyed her lap. "It was really weird," she managed to mutter. "I blacked out a moment, and when I woke up…I kind of felt like I had changed somehow."

[kaneofnod]

@loxyco Tagged me to post 10 songs, but who has just 10, so I'm gonna post more than one list :P

This one is 10 tracks picked out of my recent playlists and likes.

Tagging @cersei-the-truth-bombardier @corvuswrites @dancingassassin @la-criatura

[monasticmaestoso]

I am curious. What r your top five video games

WHOOPS I only just saw this now lmfao sorry

I'll stick to one game per franchise but u can assume im recommending the whole series

5. Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee

One of my two biggest childhood influences. Ps1/PC puzzle/platformer/adventure game about a funny blue guy escaping from slavery when he discovers his whole race is about to get butchered and sold as food products. Gets back in touch with his native roots and gets granted spiritual powers to help him free his fellow captives and topple capitalism while killing hundreds of cops along the way. There's no guns but there are grenades occasionally. Or you can possess the cops and make them use their guns to kill other cops. And then blow themselves up. Has a ton of sequels and a couple remakes, ports and remasters on PC and just about every other console. Cannot recommend enough. Also you can fart on command this game has a dedicated Fart button you use it for communicating (and then in the sequel you can possess farts too)

4. Myst

The other childhood influence. This game and whole series made me a huge wanderlust slut. Point and click adventure, puzzle solving, world exploring, journal reading. Some puzzles will definitely have you Stumped (but feel free to hmu bc I still have the first game memorised like the back of my hand and am happy to offer guidance ^^) my fave is actually the third game Exile, but I gotta pay respect to the OG. It's full of images and sound effects that remain engraved in my brain in vivid detail 20+ years later

3. Bloodborne

I'm actually not talking abt the whole "series" here I dont rly care much for dark souls etc. It's just this one lmao. Love the tone, love the gameplay, love the level design, love all the horrid monster designs. Love the Rally mechanic discouraging you from hiding and playing safe when you should be going full throttle wailing on everything as fast as possible. I love learning to party attacks with a firearm instead of a shield. I love the blood vials system. I love the doll I love Eileen the crow I love lady Maria I love all the funny little creachurs and most of all I love dying and being dead

2. Final Fantasy V

This ones kinda personal and maybe a bias I guess but idk this was my first FF and even now when I go back to it it just Hits Different somehow. Maybe it's nostalgia/bias but even comparing it to the other pre-ps1 FFs it's just got this vibe of its own. The music helps ofc the music is so fuckin good esp the new pixel remaster arramgements. Anyway it's a nice fun story about Four Complete Randos And Their Grandpa And Pet Chicken And Pet Dragon And Pet Sea Serpent And A Gay Pirate Gang And A Furry And Also A Tortoise At One Point who fight against a Giant Evil Tree that spent like a hundred years absorbing all of the most Evil souls in the world and now he wears a big blue suit of armour and calls himself Exdeath. He wants to conquer and kill and maim and destroy and eventually suck the entire world into The Void for no other reason than he's evil and loves being evil and badass. Not a whole ton of complex plot depth but that's why it's so approachable as a FF game. Also this game is where Gilgamesh and Battle on the Big Bridge came from, plus Omega and Shinryu, so if you like those then you're obligated to play this one. Also one of the main characters is a genderfluid twink with a thing for silver foxes and another is a non-binary/transmasc pirate

1. Kingdom Hearts

I couldn't not lmao. The entire series Of Course but also in this case I specifically mean the first one. Again it might be nostalgia bias but the first KH just has this unique charm to it, this warm atmosphere that none of the others have been able to replicate. Traverse town feels like a second home to me

[askseriousrainbow]

Alrighty, part 3 of the list. These are numbers 80-71, if you've been keeping track.

Link to part 1. Link to part 2. Link to part 4. Link to part 5. Link to part 6. Link to part 7. Link to part 8. Link to part 9. Link to part 10.

80. Command & Conquer Remastered Collection

Command & Conquer's remaster was a breath of fresh air, bringing in new players to both the original Tiberian Dawn and Red Alert, which are some of the highest rated strategy games ever made. The remaster just makes it easier to play, and you can choose to go back to the older graphics too. Just really good all around.

79. SimCity 2000 Special Edition

Ah, the good old SimCity franchise, back when always-online didn't exist. I'm putting 2000 here because it takes the original formula, adds a water system and specialty buildings like schools and hospitals, more disasters, a better way of doing a budget, and adds bonds/loans for the first time. A great game, with a great Let's Play. I still call the Transit Advisor “Jim” because of it.

78. Yakuza 0

Ah, Yakuza 0. My first playing of this great series. I find myself distracted by the side stories, easily. Kiryu is an interesting character and sympathetic, never breaking his “no killing” rule (if you play him like I do, anyway). Majima is just as endearing and he's given a great backstory in this game. I still need to play the other ones, but this is a strong game to start the series with.

77. Puzzle Agent

A cross between Twin Peaks and a puzzle game? Yes, please! You have to solve a mystery of a missing foreman, and have to solve all types of puzzles to get to the bottom of it. It doesn't really get solved until Puzzle Agent 2, but Puzzle Agent 1 is slightly better, so that's why it's on the list.

76. Another World

Also known as “Out of this World” because of a soap opera of the same name, this cinematic platformer is highly regarded as one of the best. Using a checkpoint system, it's very much trial and error, trying to make sure you don't die. Or your buddy, uh... Buddy.

75. Sid Meier's Civilization IV

Civ IV is my favorite of the Civ games, simply because it was easy to get into. Its expansions are great too. It's great trying to get to Alpha Centauri, and the addition of Leonard Nimoy voicing the technologies is fantastic. It's the last of the “square-grid” Civ games too, all later mainline ones were hexagonal, I believe.

74. Fibbage 4

This is probably the newest game on my list, but I love Fibbage, and this version of it is what I consider the best, what with its differing question types, fan questions, and a great visual style.

73. Evil Genius 2

I'm putting Evil Genius 2 a little lower than the original, but it's still a great base building game that expands its predecessor, with four (later five) evil geniuses to choose from. It also has multiple bases, so you can conquer the world from wherever. Also, the steady flow of your minions is better put together here. It's just a little lower because no Alexis.

72. Scarface: The World is Yours

Ah, Scarface. One of my favorite movies gets a “quasi-sequel” because this game starts with the classic shootout at the end of the movie (and you will die if you don't turn around and kill The Skull) and is about Tony rebuilding his empire and getting revenge on Sosa. The voice cast is fantastic and the music is kicking. See if you can find the PC version, there's a great fan-made patch for it.

71. Shantae and the Pirate's Curse

Pirate's Curse is heavily regarded to be the best of the Shantae games, and I have to agree. The pirate gear adds a lot to Shantae's normal skill set, along with being a different style of play since it doesn't have any genie powers, unlike the other Shantae games. It's still a fun time.

Part 4 should be tomorrow! :D

-SR

Link to part 1. Link to part 2. Link to part 4. Link to part 5. Link to part 6. Link to part 7. Link to part 8. Link to part 9. Link to part 10.

[plaguerenamon]

Look at my little base! Quite happy with it.

[kreature-pheature]

I’ve been playing Command and Conquer Remastered and I can’t believe I forgot how bad the pathfinding in this game is. I’ll send my units to a part of the map, thinking I'm cleverly sneaking them behind enemy lines, only for them to to rush into the heavily armed enemies at full speed. I’ve watched as I commanded my units to attack something next to them only for them to go all the way around and attack them from the other side.

The game still fucks but God is it annoying to have to micromanage the the little scamps that can’t follow orders properly.

[dadgamerhq]

Command and Conquer Makes a Spiritual Comeback in Fractured Alliance – The New RTS Game on Steam

The world of real-time strategy (RTS) games owes much of its success and evolution to Command and Conquer (C&C), a groundbreaking franchise that redefined the genre with its mix of high-octane warfare and cerebral strategy. For those who have longed for the return of the intense tactical gameplay and military base-building experiences that made C&C legendary, look no further—Fractured Alliance, an upcoming RTS on Steam, has arrived as a spiritual successor to Command and Conquer. Heavily inspired by Tiberian Dawn and the classic Red Alert games, Fractured Alliance merges deep tactical gameplay with modern mechanics, delivering an experience that captures the spirit of C&C while introducing exciting new features. With its strikingly familiar visuals, adrenaline-pumping soundtrack, and a rich blend of strategy and action, Fractured Alliance is poised to reignite the flames of nostalgia for veteran players and captivate a new generation of strategy enthusiasts.

The Legacy of Command and Conquer

To understand why Fractured Alliance is such an exciting project, it’s essential to look back at the enduring legacy of Command and Conquer. Released in 1995 by Westwood Studios, C&C: Tiberian Dawn is often considered one of the greatest RTS games ever made. It set the standard for the genre by combining real-time tactics with resource management, base building, and engaging storylines. The Red Alert series, with its iconic alternate-history setting and memorable characters like Tanya, took this formula even further, expanding the gameplay with new units, strategies, and unforgettable moments. One of C&C’s most defining aspects was its ability to seamlessly blend action with strategy. Whether it was managing your economy, setting up defenses, or launching a well-timed attack, every decision felt impactful. The games offered deep strategic layers while keeping the gameplay fast-paced and engaging. The soundtrack by Frank Klepacki, filled with tracks like “Act on Instinct” and “Hell March,” only heightened the intensity, creating an immersive experience that still resonates with players decades later. Yet, for all its glory, the Command and Conquer franchise has been mostly quiet in recent years. The last major C&C release was Command and Conquer: Remastered Collection in 2020, a nostalgic nod to the original games, but it didn’t introduce any new material. This has left a gap in the RTS market—a gap that Fractured Alliance seems perfectly positioned to fill.

Fractured Alliance: A New RTS with Familiar Roots

Developed by indie studio Tense, Fractured Alliance wears its Command and Conquer influences proudly on its sleeve. Narrow your eyes and take a step back from the screen, and you could almost mistake it for a modern remaster of Tiberian Dawn. From the gritty, military aesthetic to the vibrant, animated explosions and destructible environments, Fractured Alliance captures the visual style of C&C while adding its own modern flair. One of the first things that fans of Command and Conquer will notice is the striking similarity in both the art direction and the gameplay mechanics. Like its predecessor, Fractured Alliance is built around the core principles of base building, resource management, and unit control. You start by constructing your base, gathering resources, and training an army, all while preparing to face off against enemy commanders in real-time battles. However, Fractured Alliance is not just a carbon copy of C&C—it brings new depth to the gameplay. One significant addition is the emphasis on capturing and holding resource nodes scattered across the map. This introduces a new layer of strategy, as controlling these nodes can tip the balance of power in your favor. It also forces players to establish multiple fronts and make tough decisions about where to allocate their forces.

Expanding the Battlefield: Terrain, Weather, and Strategy

One of the key innovations in Fractured Alliance is its focus on terrain and environmental strategy. In C&C, terrain played a role, but Fractured Alliance takes it to a whole new level. Clifftops, for example, are prime spots for placing artillery, providing a strategic advantage for players who use the environment to their benefit. Dense forests can be used as hiding spots for infantry, perfect for launching surprise ambushes against unsuspecting foes. This terrain-focused strategy adds a fresh layer of tactical depth that will keep players on their toes, as the battlefield itself becomes an integral part of their decision-making process. Moreover, Fractured Alliance introduces the ability to develop superweapons, one of which allows you to alter the weather. Imagine facing an enemy with a strong air force, only to ground their planes with a well-timed hurricane or storm. These dynamic weather elements create an ever-changing battlefield where adaptability is key, forcing players to think critically about how to use their environment to their advantage.

A Deeper Story and Personalities on the Battlefield

While Command and Conquer offered memorable characters like Kane and Tanya, Fractured Alliance aims to build on this legacy with a tighter focus on narrative and character-driven gameplay. In the game, players will face off against various generals and commanders, each with their own distinct personalities, backstories, and combat styles. This narrative-driven approach not only adds depth to the single-player campaign but also enhances the multiplayer experience, as players will need to adapt their strategies depending on the opponent they’re facing. Each commander in Fractured Alliance has unique strengths and weaknesses, encouraging players to study their adversaries and exploit their vulnerabilities. This added emphasis on character-driven warfare brings a new level of immersion to the game, making each encounter feel more personal and rewarding.

Multiplayer Mayhem: Co-op and Competitive Modes

No RTS is complete without multiplayer, and Fractured Alliance delivers on that front with both competitive and cooperative modes. Whether you prefer going head-to-head against other players in intense, high-stakes battles or teaming up with friends to take on AI opponents, the game offers a variety of multiplayer options to suit your playstyle. Cooperative multiplayer allows players to work together in managing their resources, defending bases, and launching coordinated attacks, adding a new dimension of teamwork to the RTS formula. On the competitive side, Fractured Alliance promises fast-paced, tactical warfare that will challenge even the most seasoned RTS veterans.

A New RTS Renaissance on Steam

While the RTS genre has seen a decline in mainstream popularity in recent years, games like Fractured Alliance are proving that there is still a hunger for this style of gameplay. By blending the classic elements that made Command and Conquer a household name with modern innovations in mechanics and design, Fractured Alliance has the potential to lead a new renaissance for the RTS genre. Currently available to wishlist on Steam, the game has already generated excitement among fans of the genre. With its detailed base-building mechanics, environmental strategies, and multiplayer modes, Fractured Alliance offers something for both long-time RTS fans and newcomers alike. We may still be waiting for an official release date, but one thing is clear: Fractured Alliance is the spiritual successor to Command and Conquer that fans have been waiting for.

Conclusion

Fractured Alliance stands as a worthy successor to the legacy of Command and Conquer, taking everything fans loved about the classic series—strategic depth, fast-paced action, and memorable characters—and building on it with new ideas. Whether you're a nostalgic veteran longing for the golden days of C&C or a newcomer looking to experience the thrill of real-time strategy, Fractured Alliance is shaping up to be the next great RTS experience. With its immersive environments, dynamic weather systems, and a mix of both cooperative and competitive multiplayer modes, Fractured Alliance could be the game to breathe new life into the RTS genre. Keep an eye on it as it approaches release—this is one comeback you won't want to miss.

Read the full article

[writer59january13]

February 27th, 2018 literary tinkering rejiggered October 11th, 2024

I believed fortune cookie maxim

cryptic message couched

Apple Macbook Pro update process

alternately titled “markedly

a Luke warm welcome Matt unfurled

courtesy Jimmy John,

who embarked on

imp apostle bull mission

going to find Mark Twain.”

After wracking my brain

deducing I declare what

constituted impossible mission

to delineate purpose of these words,

after initialled written

about six and a half years ago

my best hunch (backed up

while holed up in Notre Dame),

I agonizingly dutifully didst attempt

to distract anticipatory anxiety,

(analogous to an expectant father)

while delicate protracted procedure

ticked away the minutes,

where learned hands

gingerly tweezered various and sundry

state of the art electronic

components while trained fingers

instinctively, expertly, and admiringly

wrought awesome results

bitta bing bitta bang under the hood

of cherished Apple product

courtesy wizards hunkered down

troubleshooting laptop to restore functioning

of sophisticated electronic machine

to ideal factory settings

quality control capability promised

nothing short of a miracle,

whereby engrossed deep thinkers

echoed the sound of silence

thru the corridors of time

olly olly gluten

free ranging NON GMO, oxen

oiled lubricated cloven hoof

nsync cup aided toot tune

to clacking choppers

activated after this chap

dialed up favorite technical director

using his latest smarts

vaunted from years

of breathing, eating, and living

malfunctioning circuits

housed on motherboard

exemplifying divine computer devices

generated by brain child

videre licet avast array

of embedded electronic components

back in the day

Electronic Numerical Integrator

and Computer (ENIAC),

completed in 1946

necessitated taxing physical prowess

additionally forced human interventionists

to shout over din o'er

loud grumbling within bowel

of bulky binary beast of burden

along vaguely similar scenario

buzzfeeding abdominal anatomical beast

easily appeased when yours truly

a gluttonous gourmand,

tasking me to commence upon

ordering food glorious food,

which magically and mysteriously appeared,

after manifold fiery breath

spewed by amazing dragons

poof forming breath taking

heart stopping mind bending

sensational aural and visual feast

low and behold

wresting, teasing, releasing soundcloud

an appetizer to sense

and sensibility tete a tete

while inhabiting (neigh – riding)

caparisoned painted ponies

segueing faux horse sense

(animated, captured, framed

and linkedin within carousel of time)

courtesy tony Apple iPhone X - 256 GB

Silver Verizon amazing pièce de résistance,

sans technological fetes

with CDMA/GSM ringtones,

where a pleasant fecund female

bot tilled voice didst greet

prepping, priming, promoting

Crowded House serving

blue plate special of the Green day

dis "FAKE" kin listener eagerly

awaited: salivating, simulating

sexual soothing sans savory souffle,

the first culinary orgasmic savory dish,

after aye parked,

positioned, and plunked gluteus

near swinging doors leading into kitchen,

where this word maven strategically

dip posited said maximus to attempt

futile gastronomic endeavor

tum maximize tempering torturous tenacious

devastatingly deadly assault steaming enemy

disarmed disguised, and dismantled,

resplendent redolent redoubt

digitally remastering and remixing

non discerning indistinct aromas

emanating from naked lunch to supper esse

overwhelming paroxysms to gorge

putting a ritzy lid on heated fiery dogged

craving powder milk dog biscuits

(an impossible mission), where oozing,

licking, insinuating filaments

commingled as cutthroat

nemesis cooly whipped

devastatingly weeknd ecstasy

wickedly wafting, seducing,

satiating, and salivating

courtesy olfactory foramen,

deflecting incessant onslaughts

induced famished fellow

to reevaluate, relinquish,

and revisit his Weltanschauung soup per bowl,

while simultaneously commandeering cutlery

to attack, besiege, conquer

condemning delegate

of China ware without tea zing,

thence indiscriminately marshaling choppers

to set up base camp at Oral-B

(heeding flying pie warnings, where shewing

should desserts foe ment Hunger)

eggs sauce er baited

onslaught of herbaceous,

fabulous, delicious, and bodacious

culinary cuisine aromatic eats

thoroughly teasing growling stomach

steeping interminable suspenseful,

seven star Michelin magicians

empowered to transform most anything

(such as bilge water,

road kill or septic tank)

gourmet experienced huckster longingly horny

doubled as famished

Norwegian Bachelor farmer,

equating odoriferous garbage truck

on par suckling swollen teats

patience caved to restrain noshing

impaling his strict credo

on dustbin of his story

never again ass chew gnawing

even knuckles sandwich of fingers or toes

squishy human digits

texture of imported dates,

which hunger artist experienced pangs

voilà nothing short

of Pan's Labyrinth lesson,

did justice minimally satiated afterwards,

a restauranteur hoof hall

hues highbrow opinion,

hence a short survey about ambience,

yours truly will rate

perhaps unwise of an every

Jimmy John Joe gourmand

tubby biased after an apple ala carte blanche

preceded with delicious

hors d'oeuvre high marks

more nerve wracking

than going on a blind date.

And of course with enticing

forkful of flagrant food

Beep ping Update

completely disrupted first mouthful.

[nerfplayer135]

Video game piracy, and why DRM doesn't work

Trying to fight digital piracy is like trying to kill a hydra. Cut off one head, and two more will take its place. It's a futile effort.

So then why are so many video game companies so concerned about it? The answer is simple: money. A person that plays your game without paying is a person that isn't generating revenue. At the end of the day, money is often the only thing that matters to companies, especially ones on the stock market that have shareholders to please.

This is why there have been so many copy protection schemes for video games over the decades. Video game companies want you to prove that you've bought their game, and will prevent you from playing it if you don't meet their standards. The methods of doing so are known as digital-rights management, or DRM.

Depending on how strong the DRM is, it can seriously hurt the reputation of the game and the people who made or published it. Many games these days require you to have an internet connection or an account login to play, even if such things aren't necessary. Games that are primarily singleplayer, such as the Doom 64 remaster that needed a Bethesda.net login pre-patch, will get the most flak for this.

There's also DRM used as a service, with Steam being one of the best examples. On top of dissuading casual piracy, Steam provides a host of services to players and developers alike, and is a social media service on top of that. Other examples include Origin, the Epic Games Store, and uPlay.

This system also has its faults, as seen with Rockstar and their game launcher, which garnered major controversy when GTA: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition was released. On top of delisting its games from other platforms, Rockstar's launcher was as much of a broken mess when it first came out as GTA: The Trilogy was.

And then we get to the DRM that people really hate. Activation limits, CD keys, software that opens up security holes on your PC, the works. Oh, and I can't forget about Denuvo Anti-Tamper, which constantly phones home (read: requires an internet connection), increases the size of any executable it's merged into, and can negatively impact a game's performance. It even makes modding harder, since Denuvo is constantly making sure the game's files are intact. There have even been cases of games activating anti-piracy features on legitimate copies, leading to (for example) Command & Conquer players instantly losing matches because all their units spontaneously exploded.

However, none of these DRM schemes will deter pirates. As long as someone is sufficiently motivated to crack a game (and there always will be), the DRM will mean nothing in the long term.

Unfortunately, this is what video game companies often bank on these days. They build up hype through trailers and preorder bonuses, and implement DRM to ensure that the game isn't cracked in the few days after its release. Figuring out how to bypass DRM does take time, and companies typically have more resources than pirates.

If you ask me, though, the problem of piracy is overblown. Contrary to popular belief, even pirates will support a company, both financially and through word-of-mouth, if their products are of good quality. Yet the measures taken to address piracy are often so drastic that paying customers get caught in the crossfire. There have been several cases of games with DRM so crippling to performance that cracked copies run better than legitimate ones. (AAA games are already incredibly unoptimized, but that's a story for another time.)

DRM only really works without issue if you give customers a reason to use it, as seen with services such as Steam. In pretty much any other case, it's essentially a trade: lose reputation to gain money. I personally don't think that kind of exchange is worth it.